British Draughts Federation

Week 008: May 11th 2001 by George Miller

Trunk Lines, Part 1

Opening #15A - 9-13 23-19 10-15

9-13, 23-19, 10-15, 19-10, 6-15 (a), 26-23 (b), 7-10, 24-20, 3-7, 28-24 (c), 1-6, 23-18 (d), 12-16 (e), 30-26 (f), 16-19, 32-28, 5-9, 27-23, 8-12, 23-16, 12-19, 22-17, 13-22, 26-17, 15-22, 25-18 (g), 11-16* (h), 24-15, 10-19, 20-11, 7-16, 17-13, 6-10 drawn, Jerry Childers vs. Mac Banks, 1992 ID.

Notes

(a)    The most popular and definitely, better, way.  The position is now the same as one reached in a Sanders vs.  Fortman game in the 1950 Illinois State Ty. from 10-15, 23-18, 9-14, 18-9 and then 6-13!, which was taken to get away from the usual lines.

(b)   As played by Fortman against Sanders, and later versus Dennis Cayton in their 1990 World Mail Title Match.  White has several options here, and opinions differ on which is the strongest.

(c)    If 30-26 then 15-19!, 23-16, 12-19 equalises for black and forces white to reduce the pieces.  Continue 27-23 (or the 3x3 by 20-16 etc.), 8-12, 23-16, 12-19, 32-27, 4-8, 27-24, 1-6, 24-15, 10-19, 22-17, 13-22, 25-18, 5-9, 29-25, 9-14, 18-9, 6-13, 25-22, 8-12 drawn, Jerry Childers vs. Frank Bednall, 1992-93 US-GB Payne Cup mail games.

(d)   Stronger than Fortman's 23-19 against Sanders, after which white no longer holds the advantage.

(e)    The rock-solid defence. 15-19? is shaky and Cayton lost with it to Lopez in the 1992 ID.

(f)     Or 32-28, 16-19 then 30-26 to the same play.

(g)    Or 24-8, 4-11, 25-18, 9-14 etc., drawn, Childers vs.  Lopez, 1992 ID.

(h)    A "lifesaver", proving once again that just a single defensive concept can make or break one's game.

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